Distributing content and service launch objects to mobile devices

• US 9,154,826 B2
• Filed: 04/06/2012
• Issued: 10/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Headwater Partners II LLC (Greg Raleigh)
• Original Assignee: Headwater Partners II LLC (Greg Raleigh)
• Inventors: Raleigh, Gregory G., Tellado, Jose, Green, Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): RUDY, ANDREW J
• Application Number:
  US13/441,815
• Publication Number:
  US 20120289147A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,278 Days
• Field of Search: 455/3.06, 455/403, 455/405, 455/414.3, 455/418, 455/419, 709/201, 709/202, 709/203, 709/204, 709/21, 709/221, 709/223, 709/224, 709/217, 709/220, 719/313, 719/316
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/5681 Pre-fetching or pre-delivering data based on network characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2402 Monitoring of the downstream path of the transmission network, e.g. bandwidth available traffic monitoring in data switching networks H04L43/00; monitoring data switching networks utilization H04L43/0876
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25808 Management of client data terminal profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/303
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25866 Management of end-user data customer care in data networks H04L41/5077
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2668 Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. insertion of targeted commercials based on end-user profiles information retrieval from the Internet by querying with filtering and personalisation G06F16/9535; arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast H04H20/10; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/063
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4882 for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6547 comprising parameters, e.g. for client setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring

Abstract

Embodiments of methods, systems and apparatuses for distributing content over a communication network are disclosed. One method includes managing, by at least one content distribution server, a plurality of content, assisting in preloading at least a portion of the content to a storage element associated with a wireless device, identifying a portion of a user interface of the wireless device, and sending configuration information to the wireless device, the configuration information configured to assist the wireless device in placing, in the identified portion of the user interface, a service launch object that launches the content.

Claims

1. A method performed by a network system, the method comprising:

managing a plurality of content stored on at least one content distribution server, the plurality of content including a particular content;

assisting in preloading, via a first communication network, at least a first portion of the particular content to a home content reservoir associated with a user, the particular content selected for preload based on a value metric associated with prior user activity and prior to any potential user request to download the particular content;

obtaining information to assist in identifying a portion of a user interface of a wireless device associated with the user and the home content reservoir, the wireless device communicatively coupled to the network system over a wireless access network;

obtaining a service launch object associated with the particular content for placement in the identified portion of the user interface, the service launch object, when activated by a user of the wireless device when the device is in range of a home network, causing the wireless device to communicate with the home content reservoir over a home network connection to obtain at least part of the first portion of the particular content over the home network connection; and

sending configuration information to the wireless device over the wireless access network, the configuration information configured to assist the wireless device in placing the service launch object in the identified portion of the user interface.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a differentiating attribute of the identified portion of the user interface; and

determining the configuration information based on the differentiating attribute.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless access network is a cellular network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the particular content comprises one or more of video content, audio content, software, and an application.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein assisting in preloading comprises preloading the at least a first portion of the particular content to the home content reservoir in a secure format.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the service launch object, when selected by a user of the wireless device, launches the particular content on the wireless device.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising allowing a user to access a second portion of the particular content, wherein the second portion of the content in conjunction with the at least a first portion of the content allows the user to consume the content.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the identified portion of the user interface comprises a particular partition of a plurality of partitions of the user interface.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

classifying at least one of the plurality of partitions based on ease of discovery to a user of the wireless device, and

based on the result of classifying the at least one of the plurality of partitions, identifying the particular partition for placement of the service launch object.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuration information is further configured to assist the wireless device in one or more of:

enabling or launching the particular content when a user selects the service launch object, and

providing additional management functions associated with the particular content when the user selects the service launch object.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a view of the user interface to a network system manager.

12. A network system comprising:

means for managing a plurality of content stored on at least one content distribution server, the plurality of content including a particular content;

means for assisting in preloading, via a first communication network, at least a first portion of the particular content to a home content reservoir associated with a user, the particular content selected for preload based on a value metric associated with prior user activity and prior to any potential user request to download the particular content;

means for obtaining information to assist in identifying a portion of a user interface of a wireless device associated with the user and the home content reservoir, the wireless device communicatively coupled to the network system over a wireless access network;

means for obtaining a service launch object associated with the particular content for placement in the identified portion of the user interface, the service launch object, when activated by a user of the wireless device when the device is in range of a home network, causing the wireless device to communicate with the home content reservoir over a home network connection to obtain at least part of the first portion of the particular content over the home network connection; and

means for sending configuration information to the wireless device over the wireless access network, the configuration information configured to assist the wireless device in placing the service launch object in the identified portion of the user interface.

13. The network system recited in claim 12, wherein the means for managing the plurality of content include a server.

14. The network system recited in claim 13, wherein at least one of the communication network and the wireless access network is a cellular network.

15. The network system recited in claim 12, wherein the particular content comprises one or more of video content, audio content, software, and an application.

16. The network system recited in claim 12, wherein the service launch object is an icon for launching the particular content.

17. A network system comprising:

a communications interface for enabling the network system to communicate with a wireless device over a wireless access network, the wireless device associated with a user and a home content reservoir communicatively coupled to the network system by a communication network; and

one or more network elements configured to;

manage a plurality of content stored on at least one content distribution server, the plurality of content including a particular content,

assist in preloading at least a first portion of the particular content to the home content reservoir via the communication network, the particular content selected for preload based on a value metric associated with prior user activity and prior to any potential user request to download the particular content,

obtain information to assist in identifying a portion of a user interface of the wireless device,

obtain a service launch object associated with the particular content for placement in the identified portion of the user interface, the service launch object, when activated by a user of the wireless device when the device is in range of a home network, causing the wireless device to communicate with the home content reservoir over a home network connection to obtain at least part of the first portion of the particular content over the home network connection, and

send configuration information to the wireless device over the wireless access network, the configuration information configured to assist the wireless device in placing the service launch object in the identified portion of the user interface.

18. The network system recited in claim 17, wherein at least one of the communication network and the wireless access network is a cellular network.

19. The network system recited in claim 17, wherein the particular content comprises one or more of video content, audio content, software, and an application.

20. The network system recited in claim 17, wherein the service launch object is an icon for launching the particular content.